My Trade Book Review



Book Review (Sample-01) Introduction:

  • Title: Little Miss Liberty

  • Author: Chris Robertson
  • Illustrator: Design by Sara Gillingham
  • Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
  • Copyright Date: 2005

What is the book about?
Little Miss Liberty is about the life of the Statue of Liberty. it tells the story of how the statue came to the united states. The book retells her life from the time she was born to where she resides now. The Author did a great job of highlighting what the statue stands for throughout the book using places like “in school she was a friend to everyone” and “…she was of strong will and character,...”. The book even goes far saying she was born in Paris, which is where the statue originates from. Then the story takes her through schooling and then when she travels around the world to find her place; where finally she finds her pedestal outside of New York. This book is a great introduction to learn more about the Statue of Liberty.

What subject areas, content concepts, NCSS themes, and Pennsylvania social studies standards does it cover?
This book falls under the subject area of History and Culture. It contains a couple content concepts, like growing up, becoming independent, being a friend and lending a helping hand.

NCSS Themes
Culture, Time Continuity and Change, People Places and Environments, Global Connections, and Civic Ideals and Practices.

PA Standards:
H. 8.1.3 C3 Understand Fundamentals of historical interpretation.
H. 8.3.3 B3 Historic Places (e.g. Statue of Liberty)

Which grade level is it appropriate for?
This book is appropriate for 6-7th graders for independent reading. However, this book is also very appropriate for a read-aloud to the class, which would range from 3rd grade to 5th grade.

What is your suggested method to use this book in the classroom?
My suggested method for using this book would be to introduce a unit on the Statue of Liberty. I would use whole group and do a read-aloud followed with an activity to lead into the Unit. I decide to use a Fry Readability Graph. A culminating activity could be to go and visit the Statue of Liberty, or pay a virtual tour athttp://newyork.citysearch.com/feature/4775/liberty.html . This book would also be kept in our class library for the students to look at any time during silent reading.




Book Review (Sample-02) Introduction:


Trade Book:
Nonfictional Supplement (optional):
Title: Fever 1793
Title: An American Plague
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Author: Jim Murphy
Publisher: First Aladdin Paperbacks
Publisher: Clarion Books
Copyright Date: 2000
Copyright Date: 2003
Book Summary:
Fever is about a young girl named Mattie Cook, living in Philadelphia with her mother and grandfather. Together they run a coffee shop. This book takes place in the summer of 1793 when Yellow Fever swept through Philadelphia. This book follows Mattie and her family through the devastating summer and fall of 1793 as she looses family and friends. Mattie is faced with many challenges as her mother comes down with the fever and she is forced to leave the city with her grandfather. Together she and her grandfather come down with the fever during their trip. Mattie’s struggle to survive and locate her family is inspiring. This novel opens up eyes as it transports its audience back in time to cross paths with influential people of the era and face the realities of Yellow Fever.

Subject Areas: PA State History, US History, Epidemics, Free African Society

Content Concepts: History, Sociology, Civics & Government, Anthropology

NCSS Themes:
¤ Individual Development, and Identity
¤ People, Places, and Environments
¤ Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
¤ Power, Authority, and Governance
¤ Civic Ideals and Practices

PA State Standards:
5.1.6 B “Explain the importance of the rule of law for the protection of individual rights and the common good in the community, state, nation, and world.”
5.2.6 A “Compare rights and responsibilities of citizenship…”
5.2.6 B “Explain the relationship between rights and responsibilities.”
8.1.6 B “Explain and analyze historical sources…”

Grade Level: 6th grade

Classroom Use:
If I use this book in my classroom, students would start by reading the book on their own. I would have weekly class discussions on the material read that week. Each class period I would have a mini-lesson that introduced one of the historical figures, places, or events that took place surrounding Philadelphia at that time. These activities would include short research investigations, short informational books to supplement the text, movies, and other hand-on activities that would relate to the historical content of the book while building on literacy.